Long-term results after transconjunctival resuturing of the scleral flap in hypotony following trabeculectomy

Gas Tamponade Improved Cilio-Choroidal Effusion Induced by an Ab Interno Trabeculotomy with a Microhook: Two Cases

Purpose

We treated two patients with ciliary detachment due to an ab interno trabeculotomy. The ciliary detachment was improved by the use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas or octafluoro propane (C3F8) tamponade.

Patients and Methods

Patient 1 was a 52-year-old Brazilian man with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). His preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 29 mmHg. Patient 2 was a 57-year-old Japanese woman with POAG. Her preoperative IOP was 35 mmHg. Both patients underwent an ab interno trabeculotomy with a microhook. They caused ciliary detachment as a postoperative complication. We could observe their ciliary detachment with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Hypotony persisted for 2 months and the patients' ciliary detachment had not improved. They each underwent a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with simultaneous 20% SF6 filling.

Results

In Patient 1, the use of the SF6 gas tamponade successfully attached the ciliary body. His IOP was increased to 30 mmHg after this resolution of the ciliary detachment. He underwent additional tube shunt surgery. For Patient 2, the SF6 gas tamponade improved the ciliary detachment but the ciliary body could not be attached. We injected 0.6 cc of 100% C3F8 gas into the vitreous cavity, and this gas tamponade was able to attach the ciliary body.

Conclusion

AS-OCT is very useful to evaluate ciliary detachment. PPV+Gas tamponade can be a treatment option for ciliary detachment.

The Japan Glaucoma Society guidelines for glaucoma 5th edition

We are pleased to bring you the 5th edition of the Glaucoma Clinical Practice Guidelines. Clinical practice guidelines are based on evidence (scientific grounds). It is a document that presents the treatment that is the most appropriate for the patient. "Glaucoma Clinical Guidelines" was first published in 2003. This was the first guideline for glaucoma treatment in Japan. The principle of glaucoma treatment is to lower intraocular pressure. Means for lowering intraocular pressure includes drugs, lasers, and surgery; Glaucoma is a disease that should be considered as a complex syndrome rather than a single condition. Therefore, the actual medical treatment is not as simple as one word. This time we set the Clinical Questionnaire with a focus on glaucoma treatment. We hope that you will take advantage of the 5th edition.

[How can one learn to perform a trabeculectomy? : The Mainz treatment scheme]

Trabeculectomy represents the glaucoma surgical procedure that achieves the greatest reduction in intraocular pressure and enables a low pressure regulation especially in normal pressure glaucoma. For the beginner the operation is challenging due to potential intraoperative and postoperative difficulties. With this in mind this article explains how to learn to perform a trabeculectomy and explains the various steps from assessing the indications via training, performing the surgery independently and follow-up care. The article points out the challenges during the procedure and the possible solutions and explains the individual aftercare using the Mainz treatment scheme as an example. In this way, the risk of serious complications can be reduced to a minimum and in the vast majority of patients a sufficient regulation of intraocular pressure can be achieved without the need for eye drops.

Bleb Compressive Sutures in the Management of Hypotony Maculopathy after Glaucoma Surgery

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of compressive sutures in patients with hypotony maculopathy after glaucoma surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective case series analyzes the clinical outcomes of conjunctival compressive sutures in 17 patients with hypotony maculopathy developed after glaucoma surgery. Compressive Nylon 10-0 single sutures were used in all patients; in two patients, the procedure was repeated. All patients underwent ophthalmic evaluation and macular OCT scanning before the surgery, one month, six months, and one year after the procedure.

RESULTS

Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) before suturing was 2.3 ± 1.57 mmHg and increased to 14.2 ± 7.03 mmHg (p = 0.00065) one month after the procedure. After six months, mean IOP was 10.2 ± 4.3 mmHg (p = 0.005), and after one year ± 4.7 mmHg (p = 0.0117). To obtain the target pressure, the sutures had to be removed in one patient, and medical therapy was undertaken in three patients. Mean decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before the sutures was 0.18 ± 0.13 and increased to 0.53 ± 0.25 (p = 0.0004) after one month, to 0.46 ± 0.31 (p = 0.005) after six months, and to 0.31 ± 0.22 (p = 0.025) after one year. In one case, leakage from the bleb was observed after the procedure and bleb revision was required.

CONCLUSIONS

transconjuctival compressive sutures seem to be an efficient and safe technique for managing hypotony maculopathy after glaucoma surgery.

Conjunctival bleb compression sutures: An effective method of addressing hypotony after trabeculectomy or trabeculectomy-related procedures

PURPOSE:

Over-filtration is a well-known complication of trabeculectomy and related procedures, especially with adjunctive antimetabolites. Secondary hypotony can result in reduced visual acuity and compromise long-term surgical success. Persistent hypotony requires intervention and we describe an effective adaptation of placing conjunctival compression sutures directly over the scleral flap.

METHODS:

A retrospective consecutive case series of all patients who underwent conjunctival compression suturing from 2012 to 2014 at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, UK. Under sub-tenon's anaesthesia, two 9/0 nylon figure-of-eight transconjunctival sutures were placed horizontally across the bleb: the first over the anterior flap/ostium and the second over the posterior flap edge to reduce flow through the trabeculectomy flap.

RESULTS:

A total of 10 patients underwent conjunctival compression suturing, and all patients had successful reversal of hypotony and symptom resolution within 1 week with corresponding clinical improvement. Intraocular pressure control was maintained without topical pressure-lowering agents in seven patients (median = 10 mmHg, range = 7-12 mmHg) with a median follow-up of 35.9 months (range = 11-61 months). Two patients required topical therapy to maintain intraocular pressure ≤ 14 mmHg and one patient's hypotony returned after 10 months but remained untreated due to pre-existing poor vision. No patients required a return to theatre.

CONCLUSION:

This series demonstrates that conjunctival compression sutures can successfully provide long-term control of trabeculectomy-bleb-related hypotony. This technique offers an effective alternative for glaucoma surgeons in addressing post-trabeculectomy hypotony.

Transconjunctival suturing of the scleral flap in late hypotony maculopathy after non-penetrating deep sclerectomy

CLINICAL CASE

A 63-year-old man presents with late hypotony maculopathy after non-penetrating deep sclerectomy. Hypotonia and visual acuity are improved after transconjunctival suturing of the scleral flap.

DISCUSSION

Hypotony maculopathy may occur as a late complication after glaucoma surgery. Transconjunctival suturing of the scleral flap can be useful when conservative measures have failed.

Urrets-Zavalia Syndrome After Combined Trabeculotomy-Trabeculectomy Surgery

We report a case of a rare complication after trabeculotomy combined with a small trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in a young patient with juvenile glaucoma. The patient underwent uneventful surgery. However, postoperatively, he experienced a long-lasting hypotony with the need of 2 revision surgeries and 2 short episodes of high-intraocular pressure. He developed a fixed dilated pupil over time.

The Effect of Phacoemulsification on Intraocular Pressure in Eyes with Hyperfiltration Following Trabeculectomy: A Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of visually non-significant cataract extraction in patients with hypotony maculopathy and reduced visual acuity due to over-filtering blebs after trabeculectomy.

METHODS

Patients with intraocular pressure (IOP) < 6 mmHg and documented hypotony maculopathy due to over-filtering blebs after trabeculectomy were prospectively recruited. Eligible patients underwent visually non-significant cataract phacoemulsification, no earlier than 12 weeks from the diagnosis of hypotony maculopathy. IOP and visual acuity before and after phacoemulsification were compared at 1 and 3 months from surgery. Correlations between age, time interval between surgeries, baseline IOP, bleb type and IOP and visual acuity changes at 3 months after phacoemulsification were investigated.

RESULTS

From January 2010 to September 2014, 20 consecutive adult patients met the inclusion criteria. Before phacoemulsification, mean IOP was 3.1 ± 1.6 mmHg. Following phacoemulsification, mean IOP increased to 8.6 ± 4.1 mmHg at 1 month (p < 0.01) and to 9.1 ± 4.3 mmHg at 3 months (p < 0.01). IOP elevation following phacoemulsification was observed in 16 of 20 eyes (80%). Mean visual acuity improved from Snellen 0.5 ± 0.1 to 0.6 ± 0.1 at 1 month (p < 0.01) to 0.7 ± 0.2 at 3 months (p < 0.01) after phacoemulsification. In 4 eyes in which the IOP was not elevated, surgical revision of the previous trabeculectomy was performed. No significant correlations between investigated variables, visual acuity and IOP changes at 3 months after phacoemulsification were found.

CONCLUSION

Phacoemulsification of visually non-significant cataract appears to be a safe and effective technique for managing chronic ocular hypotony with deep anterior chamber due to over-filtering blebs.

Hypotony Management through Transconjunctival Scleral Flap Resuturing: Analysis of Surgical Outcomes and Success Predictors

Aim

To investigate surgical outcomes and success predictors of transconjunctival scleral flap resuturing for the management of hypotony due to overfiltration following trabeculectomy with mitomycin C.

Materials and methods

Noncomparative, retrospective, interventional case series in which all glaucoma patients from two glaucoma services undergoing transconjunctival scleral flap resuturing between May 2012 and July 2016 were enrolled. Included eyes had to have hypotony [intraocular pressure (IOP) < 6 mm Hg] and/or hypotony maculopathy caused by excessive filtration following trabeculectomy. Key exclusion criteria were wound/bleb leaking and postoperative ocular trauma or infection. Preoperative and postoperative IOP, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus imaging, surgical complications, and any subsequent related events or procedures were recorded. Rates of postsurgical hypotony and/or maculopathy resolution and possible success predictors were investigated.

Results

A total of 22 patients (22 eyes) with a mean age of 56.4 ± 15.2 years were included. Median follow-up was 245 days [interquartilerange (IR); 120-817 days] and mean IOP was increased from 2.9 ± 1.5 mm Hg (1-6 mm Hg) to 8.5 ± 3.1 mm Hg (2-16 mm Hg) at the last follow-up visit (p < 0.01). Approximately 75% of the cases (16 out of 22) had an IOP between 7 and 18 mm Hg at the end of the follow-up period. Median BCVA (log MAR) at last follow-up visit [0.1 (IR; 0.0- 0.3)] was significantly better than preoperative BCVA [0.4 (IR; 0.11.0); p < 0.01]. Hypotony resolved in 81% of the cases, while maculopathy resolution was found in 85% of the cases. Time interval between trabeculectomy and flap resuturing was the only factor significantly associated with patient’s IOP at last follow-up visit (R² = 0.23; p = 0.036). Success rates (IOP > 6 mm Hg at last follow-up visit) were halved in those left untreated for more than 6 months. No serious adverse event was recorded.

Conclusion

Our findings support the use of transconjunctival scleral flap resuturing as an effective and safe alternative for hypotony management due to overflitration following trabeculectomy. As time interval seems to influence the odds of hypotony resolution, early intervention is recommended.

How to cite this article

Scoralick ALB, Almeida I, Ushida M, Dias DT, Dorairaj S, Prata TS, Kanadani FN, Hypotony Management through Transconjunctival Scleral Flap Resuturing: Analysis of Surgical Outcomes and Success Predictors. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(2):58-62.

Subconjunctival implantation of ologen Collagen Matrix to treat ocular hypotony after filtration glaucoma surgery

PurposeTo report the results of subconjunctival ologen Collagen Matrix implantation to manage ocular hypotony after filtration glaucoma surgery.Patients and methodsThis retrospective observational case series included 12 consecutive implantations of ologen in nine eyes of nine Japanese subjects (five men, four women; mean age±SD, 72.1±12.7 years) who underwent subconjunctival implantation of the device to treat hypotony after glaucoma filtration surgery. Demographic data and surgical results were collected by chart review.ResultsThe subjects included six patients who underwent trabeculectomy and three who underwent an EX-PRESS shunt surgery. The duration between the last glaucoma surgery and the initial ologen implantation was longer than 2 years in seven (78%) eyes. Bleb leakage in five (56%) eyes preoperatively stopped in all cases by 8 days after the device implantation. After the initial implantation, three (33.3%) eyes required a second implantation of ologen because of insufficient efficacy. After a mean follow-up of 12.6±6.8 months, the mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of 3.8±2.7 mmHg increased significantly (P=0.0001) to 9.0±3.2 mmHg; no eye required glaucoma medication to control the IOP. No vision-threatening complications developed in association with the treatment.ConclusionWhen conservative management failed, subconjunctival implantation of ologen Collagen Matrix in combination with bleb revision can be a useful therapeutic option for ocular hypotony after glaucoma filtration surgery.

Revision of encapsulated blebs after trabeculectomy: Long-term comparison of standard bleb needling and modified needling procedure combined with transconjunctival scleral flap sutures

PURPOSE

To compare two surgical approaches for treating encapsulated blebs after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, in terms of the development of intraocular pressure and progression of glaucoma in a long-term follow up: 1. bleb needling alone vs. 2. a combined approach of needling with additional transconjunctival scleral flap sutures, to prevent early ocular hypotony.

METHODS

Forty-six patients with failing blebs after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C were enrolled in this study. Patients received either needling revision alone (group 1; n = 23) or a combined needling with additional transconjuctival flap sutures, if intraoperatively the intraocular pressure was estimated to be low (group 2; n = 23). Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, visual fields, and optic nerve head configuration by means of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT®) were analysed over time. Results from both groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test for single timepoints.

RESULTS

IOP did not differ significantly between the two groups during follow-up at three months (P = 0.13), six months (P = 0.12), one year (P = 0.92) and two years (P = 0.57) after surgery. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the course of glaucoma concerning the optic nerve anatomy between the two groups (Rim Area Change in the Moorfields Regression Analysis of HRT®) till two years after surgery (P = 0.289). No functional impairment in visual acuity and visual fields was found in the groups of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Single needling procedure is a standard successful method for restoring the function of encapsulated blebs. Postoperative hypotony represents a possible hazard, which can be minimized by additional transconjunctival flap sutures. Long-term results suggest that this modification is equally effective in lowering the IOP and preventing the progression of glaucoma as the standard needling procedure. To our knowledge this is the first study to investigate the long-term effect of tranconjunctival sutures for the prevention of hypotony.

Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography for Targeted Transconjunctival Suture Placement in Overfiltering Trabeculectomy Blebs

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the utility of swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS-AS-OCT) in guiding placement of transconjunctival sutures in hypotonous patients after a trabeculectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a longitudinal case series of 10 eyes from 10 patients who required transconjunctival sutures after a trabeculectomy. SS-AS-OCT was used to aid in the placement of the sutures to improve the function of the overfiltering bleb.

RESULTS

SS-AS-OCT reliably identified localized areas of overfiltering, allowing for targeted suture placement in 8 eyes. The 2 eyes in which localized areas of overfiltering were not found required further surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

SS-AS-OCT enhances transconjunctival suturing for overfiltering blebs when focal fluid accumulation is visualized.

A New Method for Revision of Encapsulated Blebs after Trabeculectomy: Combination of Standard Bleb Needling with Transconjunctival Scleral Flap Sutures Prevents Early Postoperative Hypotony

Purpose

A simple needling procedure is the standard method for restoring the function of an encapsulated bleb after trabeculectomy. However, postoperative hypotony represents a possible hazard. This study describes a new surgical approach for treating encapsulated blebs with reduced risk of early postoperative hypotony: bleb needling combined with transconjunctival sutures tightening the scleral flap directly.

Methods

The study included two groups of 23 patients with failing bleb following trabeculectomy: “Group 1” underwent simple needling revision of the filtering bleb and served as a control group, while “Group 2” received needling revision with additional transconjunctival scleral flap sutures, if intraoperatively the intraocular pressure was estimated to be very low. Intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative management and complications were analyzed over a follow-up period of 4 weeks postoperatively. Results were compared using t-test or Mann-Whitney U-tests.

Results

Adverse effects occurred with a higher frequency after sole needling of the bleb (5 cases of choroidal effusion and 1 case of choroidal hemorrhage) than after the combined method with additional scleral sutures (1 case of choroidal effusion). The IOP on the first postoperative day was significantly lower in group 1, with 9.43 ± 9.01 mm Hg vs. 16.43 ± 8.35 mm Hg in group 2 (P = 0.01). Ten patients with ocular hypotony (IOD of 5 mmHg or lower) were found in group 1 and only two in group 2. One week and one month after surgery the intraocular pressure was similar in both groups (P>0.05).

Conclusions

This new needling technique with additional transconjunctival scleral flap sutures appears to reduce postoperative hypotony, and may thus protect from further complications, such as subchoroidal hemorrhage.

Management of hypotony and flat anterior chamber associated with glaucoma filtration surgery

AIM

To determine the effectiveness of pharmacological and interventional treatment of hypotony and flat anterior chamber (FAC) resulting from glaucoma filtration surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined the medical records of fifty-two trabeculectomy patients (52 eyes) who developed postoperative hypotony and FAC. The management and associated complications of hypotony, changing intraocular pressure (IOP) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated.

RESULT

Of the 52 patients with hypotony, 29 (56%) had a grade 1 FAC, 21 (40%) had a grade 2 FAC, and only 2 had a grade 3 FAC. There was no significant difference between the mean preoperative IOP and the mean IOP at three and six months after surgery. Thirteen eyes (25%) required antiglaucomatous medication three months after surgery. The mean BCVA at 6mo after surgery was significantly reduced as compared with the mean preoperative BCVA.

CONCLUSION

Hypotonia and FAC following trabeculectomy are associated with troublesome complications that require pharmacological and/or surgical treatment. Thus, close follow-up is essential for affected patients.

Optical coherence tomography imaging of chorioretinal folds associated with hypotony maculopathy following pars plana vitrectomy

Chorioretinal folds may occur as a consequence of hypotony and can be a cause of vision loss when associated with macular involvement. In this report, the spectral domain ocular coherence tomography imaging of three patients with chorioretinal folds before and after management are presented. The cases had unique presentations and each underwent different management approaches, but the results included improved visual acuities and lessened chorioretinal folds.

Does Chronic Hypotony following Trabeculectomy Represent Treatment Failure?

Purpose: To measure the rate of complications from chronic hypotony following trabeculectomy and clarify the definition of postoperative hypotony.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective case-control study, the rate of complications was compared between 34 eyes with chronic hypotony and 34 eyes without hypotony. Chronic hypotony was defined as those eyes with an intraocular pressure (IOP) of less than 6 mm Hg on two consecutive clinic visits at least 3 months after trabeculectomy. Cases were identified from a database of two glaucoma surgeons between 2010 and 2013. Outcomes measured included visual acuity, presence of choroidal effusion, hypotensive maculopathy and cataract development/progression. Factors associated with the development of hypotony were considered using analysis of variance (ANOVA) multivariate regression.

Results: Maculopathy was seen in 23.5% of hypotony eyes but not in controls (p < 0.01). No significant difference in the rate of choroidal effusion or cataract was documented between groups. Control eyes were more likely to remain complication free (58.8 vs 32.4%, p < 0.03). Spontaneous recovery from hypotony occurred in 32.4% of hypotony eyes.

Conclusion: Sight threatening complications occur more frequently in eyes with chronic hypotony following glaucoma surgery. However, not all eyes with chronic hypotony develop sight threatening complications. A definition of hypotony that combines IOP criteria with the presence of structural and/or functional changes is recommended.

How to cite this article: Yun S, Chua B, I Clement C. Does Chronic Hypotony following Trabeculectomy Represent Treatment Failure? J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2015;9(1):12-15.

Management of hypotony after glaucoma filtering surgery

A 39-year-old male with open angle glaucoma in both eyes visited our clinic. The intraocular pressure (IOP) of both eyes fluctuated between 15 mmHg and 25 mmHg. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye. He underwent trabeculectomy with an adjunctive agent (mitomycin C; concentration, 0.2 mg/mL) smoothly on the right eye. After the removal of releasable sutures, the filtering bleb was prominent over the superior limbus for 3 consecutive clock hours with an IOP of about 4–5 mmHg. The Seidel test result was negative, and the anterior chamber depth was moderate to deep. The BCVA of the right eye decreased to 20/100, and optical coherence tomography revealed macular edema. We injected sodium hyaluronate (Healon, Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) into the anterior chamber 2 months after the operation, and repeated the same procedure 4 days later. After each injection, the IOP spiked up to 50 mmHg, and an intravenous infusion of mannitol was required. Sodium hyaluronate was found migrating into the bleb on post-injection day 1. Then we decided to revise the bleb by suturing the scleral flap at two sides. The IOP of the right eye returned to 10 mmHg 4 days after the revision surgery. The BCVA of the right eye recovered to 20/20 6 months after the revision. Optical coherence tomography also showed recovery from macular edema. One IOP-lowering agent (1% brinzolamide ophthalmic suspension) was required for IOP control after bleb revision. Early revision of the scleral flap may resolve hypotony and associated serious complications.